DPRK vs. PRC

Anyway… I know I know, I JUST posted like an hour ago or something about the sexy soccer girls (and that other clip… what was it about?). But I stumbled on these photos of a Russian Web designer who took a trip to North Korea (sometimes referred – in jest, I assume – as The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea).

All I can say is that for anyone living in China, the “shock and awe” of seeing North Korea might leave you scratching your head. It’s frigin’ China. I mean, there are some minor differences, but honestly… anyone that wants to see the DPRK and doesn’t want the hassle of people telling you what you can and can’t take photos of, just come to China. 一样, 真的一样.

16 Responses

No doubt that there are differences (mostly in that N. Korea has not started the reforms that China has – so it’s likely a lot like China was 25 years ago), but he doesn’t talk too much (a few points) about the lifestyle, but more just at the random things he sees… and randomness abounds in China.

I think China is what would happen if North Korea and America kissed, made up and had a little 混血宝宝.

yes, Phoebe, I totally agree with you. As our great chairman Mao said,” no practice, no right to speak”. maybe Ryan would like to say “废话”again, but…really, if you want this topic make more sense, you must live in there for a while. or if you just throw some photos here, that’s ok.
I think probably what Ryan means is just that he have nothing to paste lately, or he is very busy on working that lost laowai stuff,so he had to scramble something to irrigate some water on his dry blog.
Actually I’d rather consider this post as a “抛砖引玉”one,but regret to say it’s not even a brick.Haha

Yeah, I agree that it’s probably more likely that N. Korea is like what China was some 25 years ago. I mean, I’m sure there are no cities like Shanghai in the DPRK. Otherwise, it looks like a drab communist country. It actually reminds me of how Russia looked when I went there just a few years after the fall of communism (1993).

@Kate: Haha, dry eh? Wetter than yours my friend, wetter than yours. And it was St. Jerome that said “practice what you preach” in around 1,500 years before Mr. Mao took credit for it. You’ll notice that it was simply a post about photos from North Korea. I didn’t say North Korea IS China, I said that the photos look just like China. You’re continually afraid I’m going to call your comments “废话”, but you give me nothing to prove elsewise. And it’s post… paste is what I ate too much of as a child.

@Phoebe: wo ye kan bu dong ta. Dan shi, ta de yisi shi: “Ryan offers trival, empty remarks to give people with more intelligence a chance to flesh it out” (抛砖引玉 – lit. throw bricks and get jade). Sadly, looks like Kate’s not much of a jade dealer.

@Stuart: Would have been an amazing time to see Russia. Not amazing as in “look at that sunset” amazing, but more like “wtf is going on?” amazing.

@all: On a side note: I showed my (Chinese) girlfriend these photos (the small versions) and she thought it was China.

Absolutely a WTF experience, being in Russia at that time. It was both “WTF is going on?” and “WTF am I doing here?!” Very educational though. And yes, those pictures could have come from some parts of China, I’m sure.

Also, as a metter of interest, has anyone ever told you that you can’t take photos? Last year Richard wanted a telescope to look at the stars, I bought him one, he used it exactly twice. However, I was a little worried since we live so near to the mysterious Lushun, truth is, nobody gives a shit where we peer with our telescope, and we have a policeman living opposite. (How did he afford that house????)

@Christina: Yeah, that was my original point. If you read through the military thread that I linked to (which I originally forgot to include a link to), you’ll see that people are talking about how desolate and strange N. Korea looks … and my post was just pointing out that you don’t have to wait months and months to get your DPRK visa, just come to China. Hell, you can even get paid to do it. Which is why I’m not too clear what Kate was going on about up there.

@Phoebe: If it’s paste, it’s pretty witty. And nope, no one has told me not to take any photos. I think it’s one of those things that isn’t a problem until someone official makes it a problem. Like right now, it’s just not a concern, but if word comes down to tighten up security on foreigners or something… then it might be an issue. Everything seems to come in wide-sweeping gestures all at once. (a la the recent media crackdown).

Sorry Phoebs, maybe it’s a N. America thing… “paste” is glue. Like the glue you had to make crafts when you were a kid. Toxicology tests haven’t come back yet, but I think it had an effect.

anyone that wants to see the DPRK and doesn’t want the hassle of people telling you what you can and can’t take photos of, just come to China.

I’m not sure where the confusion is in this one. My point was that if you go to the DPRK you have to deal with being told that you can’t take photos of this or that or the other thing… but in China it’s no problem and two out of three Chinese agree – there’s little difference between the “look” of the two countries (poverty, big communism-style concrete buildings, goofy statues in parks, even men peeing in public).

Hey Ryan,how r u? seems like I have missed so many comments here. you are a good teacher. If there’s any prize for excellent foreign teacher in china, I’d like to give that to you.
and pheobe, sorry for the misunderstanding caused by my words. “paste”, I had thought that meant you cut something from one place, and paste it to another place. the same as post.now I know it’s just kind of Chinese English that no one can understand,hehe.
Ryan,of course you are right, there’s little difference between the “look” of the two countries (poverty, big communism-style concrete buildings, goofy statues in parks, even men peeing in public).
what I meant is just the topic and the comparation are a little tiny superficial. Because in my eyes, here is expected to have more thoughtful post than other blogs. even though I’m not much of a jade dealer,but I am looking forward to seeing you guys throwing some jade to induce me come here often.
did I express my meaning clearly? hehe, nervous,now I feel so unconfident about my english expression.

@Kate: I wish I could say I didn’t miss ya. I was wondering where you were!

You’re not really wrong about the “paste” thing. It does mean to cut something from one place and “paste” it in another. But it’s not interchangeable with “post” … though many of my “posts” are semi-“pastes” as I generally comment on things I read in the news or on other blogs.

I’m not sure if I should take that “in my eyes, here is expected to have more thoughtful post than other blogs” as a compliment or not… please don’t “expect” anything from this blog. I can promise you that you’ll be let down. 😉

And don’t worry about your meaning… we’ll sort it out. Most of us talk to Chinese people who don’t have have the language ability as you everyday. Keep commenting.